Dinozzo behaves much better for me than he does my dad. Thus, I think this is part of the reason he thinks I am just going to end up falling and hurting myself because of Dinozzo. And heck I know anything is possible.

He is decent on the leash for me. Every once in awhile he will start to pull lightly to a mailbox post but a few quick light pops of the prong and he falls right back into place. Sometimes I don't think I even really need the prong anymore.

The only real concern is other dogs. I finally had him not barking/pulling when he saw other dogs. He would still get excited but didn't react. Recently we got charged by a couple loose dogs on different occasions. So now he is back to barking and pulling some. He usually stops after they walk past us.

I just bought a new bike on Monday and for the first time in 17 years finally rode one again. I took Dinozzo out with the leash and prong. We started out with just him walking along side it. Then I actually started riding with him on his leash/prong.

We went at a slow trot and he kept pace. He started to pull every now and then but just a couple light corrections and he would fall right back into place. Only had to do that a couple times and for the majority of the time he ran really nice along side it. I saw a lady up ahead with her dog so I stopped where we were and got of the bike & waited till they passed. He did start barking and pulling some again but it wasn't till after I had the bike stopped.

My question is how much more control do you feel you have with a springer attachment vs just having them run along side with the leash? I already ordered my springer, but am wondering if I should still work on leash walking more before I use the springer.

Side note: He is going to be 8 mo in a week. I only plan to go up and down a few blocks a couple times at a slow pace. It will be under a mile and at a slow pace. Eventually once he gets older we will be biking in the parks and I will be stopping throughout the trails to take nature pictures.

I don't have the same model of bike attachment, but I think it's much safer to use any one of them than just a leash in your hand. My attachment is fastened under my seat, and also has a built-in spring, so my dog can't pull me over. If I had his leash in my hand - and he pulled that - then he'd be able to turn the front wheel as well, and that would throw me off the bike, lol!

Your plan to take it slow is important. I didn't bike with my pup until he was just under a year, and we didn't go very far. I also bought him a harness to wear, instead of a collar.

I have been pulled off using just the leash on a pinch so I have a springer. It does take a lot of the concussion out of the pulling or lurching. That said, it isn't 100%. I had a dog stop and try to go behind me after a squirrel. The Springer isn't designed for that type and direction of force.

Thanks for posting this. I've been considering getting one for my dog. She's dog reactive but we live in such a quiet place we only see one dog a week. It would be great to take her out with me on the bike.

I've never used the Springer. I train the dog to jog on the *right* side (sometimes required for an AD and also protects the dog when I'm in the road, so I'm between the dog and the traffic). I start just walking the bike and make it clear that they are *not* to run ahead of the front wheel. They get a correction both from me and the bike if they do. I just use a leash and a prong collar. I never wrap the leash around my wrist or the bike, I just lay it flat below my hand on the handle bar and if for some reason I think the dog would pull me over I can just let it drop. I bike at a speed where the dog it fast-gaiting but not breaking into a run, so there's no tightness on the leash since I'm keeping up with the dog. My first GSD was smaller, less angulated, so maintained a slower speed for gaiting and she never pulled on leash. I had problems with there being too much slack in the leash and it tripping her so I biked her in a harness with the leash clipped on her back.

Check into bikejoring when your dog is old enough and its growth plates have sealed. I personally would never use a Springer or Walky Dog. I bike my dogs 5+ miles a day and I've come to realize their full potential for power. I've been dragged off my bike plenty of times when I was new to biking a dog. Now I've got it down, and we can pass squirrels, dogs, coyotes, rabbits, etc without issue. I take all 4 out at one time. They have learned the commands for sled dogs, and they run out in front of me pulling me on my mountain bike. I don't even have to pedal once the entire ride. With those side bike attachments, it just seems so awkward and unbalanced, unless you had a dog on both sides to even it out. Here's a pic of me and 2 of my 4 dogs bikejoring so you get the idea:

It isn't unbalanced, because the dog is secured to the attachment - but it's more like walking on a loose leash once the dog is trained to stay in that specific spot. Although, it would depend on the rider/dog combo. My brother lets his dog pull him with the same device I use, but the arm is secured under the bike seat itself, and doesn't move, so the pull is a forward motion. I don't do this myself though - I just keep the pace of my dog in a trot.

I've never used the Springer. I train the dog to jog on the *right* side (sometimes required for an AD and also protects the dog when I'm in the road, so I'm between the dog and the traffic). I start just walking the bike and make it clear that they are *not* to run ahead of the front wheel. They get a correction both from me and the bike if they do. I just use a leash and a prong collar. I never wrap the leash around my wrist or the bike, I just lay it flat below my hand on the handle bar and if for some reason I think the dog would pull me over I can just let it drop. I bike at a speed where the dog it fast-gaiting but not breaking into a run, so there's no tightness on the leash since I'm keeping up with the dog. My first GSD was smaller, less angulated, so maintained a slower speed for gaiting and she never pulled on leash. I had problems with there being too much slack in the leash and it tripping her so I biked her in a harness with the leash clipped on her back.

I actually had done some of this yesterday on and off the bike and he did seem to catch on quick to not go in front of the bike. For me I could see him messing me up though when there is another dog in the area.

Quote:

Originally Posted by counter

Check into bikejoring when your dog is old enough and its growth plates have sealed. I personally would never use a Springer or Walky Dog. I bike my dogs 5+ miles a day and I've come to realize their full potential for power. I've been dragged off my bike plenty of times when I was new to biking a dog. Now I've got it down, and we can pass squirrels, dogs, coyotes, rabbits, etc without issue. I take all 4 out at one time. They have learned the commands for sled dogs, and they run out in front of me pulling me on my mountain bike. I don't even have to pedal once the entire ride. With those side bike attachments, it just seems so awkward and unbalanced, unless you had a dog on both sides to even it out. Here's a pic of me and 2 of my 4 dogs bikejoring so you get the idea:

Cool picture!

I actually just came across a video on youtube. It really doesn't start till 4 minutes in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbTU-ERhnbE, but it has me really excited to use the springer. Her dog even does a jump pull in the video and it doesn't effect the owner who is just getting on the bike. She also mentions how the dog went nuts for a raccoon on the side of the road and she was still able to keep control.

I just found out that my springer will arrive today instead of on Friday!

I have been pulled off using just the leash on a pinch so I have a springer. It does take a lot of the concussion out of the pulling or lurching. That said, it isn't 100%. I had a dog stop and try to go behind me after a squirrel. The Springer isn't designed for that type and direction of force.

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